Call for Entries - 2015 Art Contest

We are happy to announce our Call for Entries to our 2015 Art Contest in partnership with the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation!  Please encourage any Louisiana high school junior or senior that you know to submit an entry!

$45,000 in Scholarship Awards

Theme:  Louisiana's Music

in partnership with:

Louisiana has generated multiple seminal musical styles and contributed the development of many others, influencing popular music beyond its borders. New Orleans' unique blend of cultures provided fertile ground for the creation of Jazz. The southwestern part of the state is home to Cajun music and Zydeco while northern Louisiana has played an important role in the histories of country music, rockabilly, and the blues.

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation celebrates and preserves this rich musical legacy. In addition to Jazz Fest presented by Shell, the Foundation produces free festivals throughout the year reflecting different strands of our inter-twined culture.

We invite this year's applicants to explore Louisiana's rich musical heritage. The artistic approach can be historical, contemporary, or imaginary in its conception, with interpretations ranging from a traditional portrait of an important Louisiana musician to an abstract exploration of sounds.


Eligibility
All juniors and seniors in Louisiana are eligible for entry in the GRFA Art Contest. No test score, grade point average or college major requirement is necessary for enter. The contest is open to all juniors and seniors attending public and private schools, home schooled students, and GED students.

Deadline
Online application and photo of art submissions must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 12, 2015. Visit our website to learn more about the Terms and Conditions.

Poster Artist
The winning artist will have the opportunity to collaborate with the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts team to design a special poster to be sold at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation's free festivals including the Crescent City Blues and BBQ Festival, the Louisiana Cajun Zydeco Festival, Congo Square Rhythms Festival, and Fiesta Latina.

Sales from these posters will benefit the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation.

Selecting Finalists
A blind, two-part judging process focuses on three categories: interpretation of theme, creativity and design. GRFA requires that submissions be between 11 x 14 and 18 x 24 inches. Winners will be announced at the 6th Annual Art Contest Awards Luncheon presented by Cox on April 18, 2015, at the Sheraton Hotel in New Orleans.

Attention Art Teachers

The school that submits the most entries will recieve a year's worth of art suppies through our George's Art Closet program. Art supply kits are valued at $2,000 and they can give students the tools needed in order to have a first-class art education! Please encourage all of your students to enter.

Thank You to Our Sponsors!

Newly Released TEDx Talk by Jacques Rodrigue and LELA's Holiday Art Contest

Newly Released TEDx Talk by Jacques Rodrigue

Recorded in 2013 in Shreveport, LA, this newly released TEDx Red River talk features a presentation by GRFA's Executive Director Jacques Rodrigue. In this talk, he explores the creative legacy of his father, George Rodrigue, the origin of the Blue Dog, and how the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts advocates for arts in education through its Louisiana A+ Schools program.

What is TEDx? The TEDx Program is designed to help communities, organizations, and individuals to spark conversation and connections through independently organized events with a combination of live presenters and TED Talk videos.
 

Jacques Rodrigue presents at TEDx Red River.

To provide a behind-the-scenes look, Jacques penned a guest blog post about the experience of preparing for his TEDx presentation on Musings of an Artist's Wife by Wendy Rodrigue. He explains, "To have the chance to be able to share our story and our vision for the potential for arts in Louisiana schools was exciting!" Click here to read the complete post. You can also watch Jacques' first TEDx presentation for TEDxLSU here.



LELA Holiday Art Contest

Louisiana Education Loan Authority (LELA), a partner organization of the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts, has announced their 2014 Holiday Art Contest. The theme this year is "The Holidays - Louisiana Style!" with winners awarded up to $6,000 in scholarships. If you are a high school senior, we encourage you to learn more about this exciting opportunity! The deadline to enter is November 1st, so be sure to click the image below for more information.

Big Fun in Texas: Houston Lauch Party

As you walk through the front doors of Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Houston, a larger-than-life painting of a Blue Dog - complete with red cowboy boots and a black Stetson - greets all visitors. Here on September 10th, the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts welcomed over 100 guests to a Launch Party to raise funds for arts education outreach in the Houston community during Rodrigue: Houston, a retrospective exhibition of 100 original works by George Rodrigue opening Spring 2015.

Co-hosts Don Sanders and Susan Krohn join Mallory Page Rodrigue and Jacques Rodrigue at the Launch Party for Rodrigue: Houston.

Guests enjoyed live music and delicious food provided by Ruth's Chris Steakhouse.

Proceeds from ticket sales and auction items brought in over $75,000 for arts outreach in the Houston area! With these funds, GRFA will provide free field trips to students, art supply kits to local schools, and community art making events.

A live and silent auction featured one-of-a-kind works and sold out silkscreen prints by the late George Rodrigue.

Jacques Rodrigue, Executive Director of GRFA, welcomes attendees to the Launch Party.

Thank you to all of the friends and supporters who attended this event and made the night a smashing success! We also extend our gratitude to our co-hosts, Don Sanders and Susan Krohn, as well as to the amazing staff at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse for helping us create a memorable evening to advocate for arts in education.

Click the image below to learn more and see a photo gallery from the event!

 

Arts Education Supporters Come Together for Unveiling of New Blue Dog Print

Last week, the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts and the Louisiana State University School of Music came together at The Cook Hotel in Baton Rouge for the unveiling of "Take Five," a posthumous print by George Rodrigue.

The event was generously underwritten by Deborah Dunlevy Todd and featured a performance on the Rodrigue Steinway Piano by Harold Mims, a student in the LSU School of Music.

Todd Queen, Dean of the LSU College of Music & Dramatic Arts, joins Jacques Rodrigue, Executive Director of GRFA, at the unveiling of "Take Five."

Harold Mims, a student in the LSU School of Music, performs on the Rodrigue Steinway Piano.

The Blue Dog print, which the Estate of George Rodrigue issued in an edition of 950, is available at the price of $500 and all proceeds will be split between GRFA and LSU School of Music. With this edition selling quickly, both organizations dedicated to arts education are benefitting greatly. Thank you to everyone who has already purchased one of these silkscreen prints!

"Take Five" by George Rodrigue, silkscreen print, 26 x 31 inches

Purchase your print today! 

Visit www.georgerodrigue.com to buy online, or visit a Rodrigue Studio location in New Orleans, Lafayette, or Carmel, CA.

About Rodrigue Estate Editions

The Estate of George Rodrigue created a proprietary ink stamp on editions released by the Estate. The one-of-a-kind formula includes several security measures that guarantee the authenticity of Rodrigue Estate editions. The stamp measure approximately 1.5 x 3 inches and is screened directly onto prints issued by the Rodrigue Estate. This signature reacts uniquely to differing wavelengths of light.

Posthumous “Blue Dog” Print to Benefit LSU School of Music & GRFA

On Thursday, September 4th, the Estate of George Rodrigue will unveil a new posthumous print, Take Five, at a private reception at the Cook Hotel in Baton Rouge. The silkscreen was designed by George Rodrigue before his passing on December 14, 2013, and has been printed posthumously in a limited numbered edition of 950.

Starting today, the print will be available for purchase at www.GeorgeRodrigue.com and in Rodrigue Studio locations in New Orleans, Lafayette, and Carmel, California. The print is offered at a price of $500 with all proceeds supporting the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts (GRFA) and the LSU School of Music.

"Take Five" by George Rodrigue, silkscreen print, 26 x 31 inches

“We are so excited to unveil this print that Dad designed,” says Jacques Rodrigue, Executive Director of the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts. “Dad was a huge supporter of the arts and education, and we are so proud to partner with the LSU School of Music to continue his legacy.”

The reception will bring together fans of George Rodrigue’s art and supporters of the LSU School of Music for a first look at the exclusive print, Take Five. Guests will enjoy music by LSU School of Music PhD student Harold Mims who will perform on the Rodrigue Steinway piano.